Paper-sheet feeding device

ABSTRACT

A torque limiter between a pressure roller and shaft, which is configured to allow the pressure roller to rotate in a feed-out direction of a paper-sheet P, relative to the shaft, when a torque greater than a predetermined torque T is applied to the pressure roller along a circumferential direction thereof, while interlocking the pressure roller with the shaft when the torque applied to the pressure roller along the circumferential direction thereof is less than the predetermined torque. Further, the predetermined torque is set less than frictional torque N 3  directly generated between a feed roller friction part and a pressure roller friction part at a nip part N, while being set greater than both the frictional torque N 1  generated between the pressure roller friction part of the pressure roller and the paper-sheet P at the nip part N and the frictional torque N 4  generated between a pair of paper-sheets P at the nip part.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a paper-sheet feeding device configuredfor successively feeding a plurality of paper-sheets stored in apaper-sheet storing unit, to an outside, one by one, and in particularrelates to the paper-sheet feeding device that can simplify the entireconstruction thereof, reduce the cost and increase a feeding speed ofthe paper-sheets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The paper-sheet feeding device used for a banknote counter or the likeis configured for successively feeding the paper-sheets (e.g., banknotesor the like) stacked therein, one by one, so as to carry them to theoutside.

Typically, in such a paper-sheet feeding device as described above, afeed roller and a thickness adjustment member are provided to a feedingunit for the paper-sheets, with a gap corresponding to thickness of onepaper-sheet. Thus, the paper-sheet fed into the feeding unit can be fedout therefrom, one by one, while being controlled upon passing throughthe gap between the feed roller and the thickness adjustment member.However, in such a paper-sheet feeding device, when the paper-sheets areinserted and stuck between the feed roller and the thickness adjustmentmember, while being overlapped in two sheets or more, the feed rollerwill be in a locked state, and rotation of the feed roller will bestopped. In such a case, it will take unduly time and labor to removesuch stuck paper-sheets.

To solve this problem, the paper-sheet feeding device as disclosed inJP5-8878A has been proposed. Now, such a conventional paper-sheetfeeding device is described, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 isa side view schematically showing construction of the conventionalpaper-sheet feeding device, and FIG. 5 is a diagram for schematicallyillustrating a state when the paper-sheet is fed out from thepaper-sheet feeding device shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, FIG. 5( a) is aschematic view showing a state before the paper-sheet is fed out, FIG.5( b) is a schematic view showing a state when one paper-sheet is fed toa nip part between the feed roller and a pressure roller, and FIG. 5( c)is a schematic view illustrating a state when two paper-sheets are fedto the nip part between the feed roller and the pressure roller, whilebeing overlapped with each other.

As shown in FIG. 4, the conventional paper-sheet feeding device includesa storing unit 90 configured for storing therein the plurality ofpaper-sheets P in a stacked condition, a kicker roller 80 provided to abottom portion of the storing unit 90 and adapted for kicking thepaper-sheets P stored in the storing unit 90, to the outside, one byone, and the feed roller 60 and pressure roller 70, each adapted forfeeding out the paper-sheet P kicked out from the storing unit 90 by thekicker roller 80. The feed roller 60 is provided to be in contact withand pressed against the pressure roller 70, while the nip part N isformed between the feed roller 60 and the pressure roller 70.

The feed roller 60, as shown in FIG. 4, is configured to be continuouslyrotated, in a direction designated by an arrow as depicted in FIG. 4,upon performing a feed-out operation for the paper-sheet P. The feedroller 60 includes a base part 62 having a substantially disk-like shapeand formed from, for example, a plastic or metal. The base part 62 has arubber (not shown) provided around the whole outer circumferencethereof. Along an axis of the feed roller 60, a feed roller shaft 61 forpivoting the feed roller 60 is provided to extend in a verticaldirection relative to the sheet of FIG. 4. This feed roller 60 can serveto feed out each paper-sheet P kicked out by the kicker roller 80, whilebeing in contact with a surface thereof.

The pressure roller 70, as shown in FIG. 4, includes a base part 72having a substantially disk-like shape and formed from, for example, asuitable plastic or metal. Further, the base part 72 has another rubber(not shown) provided around the whole outer circumference thereof. Alongthe axis of the pressure roller 70, a pressure roller shaft 71 forpivoting the pressure roller 70 is provided to extend in the verticaldirection relative to the sheet of FIG. 4. The nip part N is formedbetween the rubber provided around the base part 72 of the pressureroller 70 and the rubber provided around the base part 62 of the feedroller 60. Additionally, a torque limiter 73 is provided between thebase part 72 of the pressure roller 70 and the pressure roller shaft 71.The torque limiter 73 is provided to allow the pressure roller 70 to berotated, in a circumferential direction thereof (specifically, in afeed-out direction of the paper-sheet P), relative to the pressureroller shaft 71, when torque greater than a predetermined torque isapplied to the pressure roller 70 along the circumferential directionthereof. Meanwhile, this torque limiter 73 interlocks the pressureroller 70 with the pressure roller shaft 71, when the torque that isless than the predetermined torque is applied to the pressure roller 70along the circumferential direction thereof.

Furthermore, a pressure roller shaft drive transmission mechanism (notshown) adapted for driving the pressure roller shaft 71 to becontinuously rotated is provided to the pressure roller shaft 71.Specifically, this pressure roller shaft drive transmission mechanism isprovided to rotate the pressure roller shaft 71, at any time, at a lowspeed, in a direction reverse to the feed-out direction of thepaper-sheet P, i.e., in the direction designated by another arrow asdepicted in FIG. 4. Thus, the pressure roller 70 will be rotated in thefeed-out direction of the paper-sheet P, against the rotation of thepressure roller shaft 71, when the torque applied to the pressure roller70 in the circumferential direction thereof is greater than thepredetermined torque, due to friction against the feed roller 60 or thelike (see FIG. 4). Meanwhile, the pressure roller 70 will be interlockedwith the pressure roller shaft 71 and rotated in the direction reverseto the feed-out direction of the paper-sheet P, when the torque appliedto the pressure roller 70 in the circumferential direction thereof isless than the predetermined torque.

Next, the feed-out operation for the paper-sheet P, at the nip part N insuch a conventional paper-sheet feeding device as shown in FIG. 4, willbe described in more detail, with reference to FIG. 5. It is noted thatthe feed-out direction of the paper-sheet P is a right direction in FIG.5.

FIG. 5( a) is a diagram schematically showing one exemplary state inwhich no paper-sheet P is fed to the nip part N between the feed roller60 and the pressure roller 70. In this state, the feed roller 60 iscontinuously rotated in the feed-out direction of the paper-sheet P.Since the feed roller 60 is pressed against the pressure roller 70, atorque for driving the pressure roller 70 to be rotated together withthe feed roller 60 is transmitted to the pressure roller 70 from thefeed roller 60. This torque that is applied to rotate the pressureroller 70 (i.e., the torque applied to the pressure roller 70 in thecircumferential direction thereof) is set greater than the predeterminedtorque set in the torque limiter 73. Therefore, the rotation of thepressure roller 70, relative to the pressure roller shaft 71, in thefeed-out direction of the paper-sheet P, is allowed. Thus, as shown inFIG. 5( a), the pressure roller 70 will be rotated together with thefeed roller 60, against the rotation of the pressure roller shaft 71.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5( b), when one paper-sheet P is fed to thenip part N between the feed roller 60 and the pressure roller 70,frictional torque exerted between the rubber provided around the outercircumference of the base part 62 of the feed roller 60 and thepaper-sheet P as well as exerted between the rubber provided around theouter circumference of the pressure roller 70 and the paper-sheet P. Atthis time, both the frictional torque generated between the rubber ofthe feed roller 60 and the paper-sheet P and the frictional torquegenerated between the rubber of the pressure roller 70 and thepaper-sheet P, at the nip part N, are greater than the predeterminedtorque applied from the torque limiter 73. Therefore, also in this case,the rotation of the pressure roller 70, relative to the pressure rollershaft 71, in the feed-out direction of the paper-sheet P, is allowed.Thus, as shown in FIG. 5( b), the pressure roller 70 will be rotatedtogether with the feed roller 60, against the rotation of the pressureroller shaft 71.

However, if two paper-sheets P are accidentally kicked out by the kickerroller 80, while being overlapped with each other, such two overlappedpaper-sheets P will be fed to the nip part N between the feed roller 60and the pressure roller 70, as shown in FIG. 5( c). In such a case, thefrictional torque is exerted between the rubber of the feed roller 60and one of the two paper-sheets P as well as exerted between the rubberof the pressure roller 70 and the other of the paper-sheets P.Furthermore, the frictional torque is also exerted between such a pairof overlapped paper-sheets P. Namely, when such two overlappedpaper-sheets P are fed to the nip part N, the torque applied to thepressure roller 70 in the circumferential direction thereof will be thefrictional torque exerted between the pair of paper-sheets P. However,such frictional torque exerted between the pair of paper-sheets P issignificantly less than the predetermined torque set in the torquelimiter 73. Therefore, the rotation of the pressure roller 70 in thefeed-out direction of the paper-sheet P, relative to the pressure rollershaft 71, will not be allowed by the torque limiter 73 and the pressureroller 70 will be interlocked with the pressure roller shaft 71. Inother words, the pressure roller 70 will be rotated in the directionreverse to the feed-out direction of the paper-sheet P. Consequently,the one of the two overlapped paper-sheets P, on the side of the feedroller 60, will be fed out from the nip part N, in the right directionin FIG. 5, while being moved together with the rotation of the feedroller 60. Meanwhile, the other of the two overlapped paper-sheets P, onthe side of the pressure roller 70, will not be fed out from the nippart N, due to the rotation of the pressure roller 70 in the directionreverse to the feed-out direction of the paper-sheet P.

However, there are various problems still remaining in such aconventional paper-sheet feeding device. First, it is necessary toprovide the pressure roller shaft drive transmission mechanism, in orderto drive the pressure roller shaft to be continuously rotated.Therefore, the construction of the paper-sheet feeding device becomesconsiderably complicated, thus increasing the production cost. Secondly,as shown in FIG. 5, even in the case except that two or morepaper-sheets P are fed, accidentally, at a time, to the nip part N,i.e., even in the case in which the paper-sheets P are fed, normally,one by one, to the nip part N, slipping against the torque exerted fromthe torque limiter 73 always occurs between the pressure roller 70 andthe pressure roller shaft 71. Therefore, in such a conventionalpaper-sheet feeding device, considerably high durability should berequired for the torque limiter 73, thus rendering such a torque limiter73 quite expensive.

Additionally, in the conventional paper-sheet feeding device, forexample, when the two paper-sheets P are fed, accidentally, at a time,to the nip part N, after the paper-sheets P are fed, normally, one byone, to the nip part N, as shown in FIG. 5( b), the direction ofrotation of the pressure roller 70 relative to the pressure roller shaft71 will be changed from the feed-out direction into the directionreverse to the feed-out direction (i.e., a feed-in direction).Therefore, such a switching operation for the rotational direction ofthe pressure roller 70 takes additional time, making it difficult toachieve desired increase of the feed-out speed of the paper-sheets P.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention was made in view of the problems as describedabove. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved paper-sheet feeding device that can eliminate the need forproviding the aforementioned drive transmission mechanism for rotatingthe pressure roller as well as applying a torque limiter having arelatively low durability to the pressure roller, thereby simplifyingthe entire construction of the device as well as achieving significantcost reduction and desired increase of the feed-out speed of thepaper-sheets.

The present invention is a paper-sheet feeding device comprising: a feedroller configured to be continuously rotated, upon feeding apaper-sheet, wherein the feed roller has a feed roller friction partprovided around an outer circumferential surface thereof and configuredto be in contact with a surface of the paper-sheet, thereby feeding thepaper-sheet; a pressure roller configured to be pressed against the feedroller and forming a nip part, together with the feed roller, whereinthe pressure roller has a pressure roller friction part provided aroundan outer circumferential surface thereof and having a smallercoefficient of friction against the paper-sheet, as compared with thecoefficient of friction between the feed roller friction part and thepaper-sheet; a pressure roller shaft provided to extend along an axis ofthe pressure roller and configured not to be rotated in a feed-outdirection of the paper-sheet; and a torque limiter provided between thepressure roller and the pressure roller shaft and configured to allowthe pressure roller to be rotated in the feed-out direction of thepaper-sheet, relative to the pressure roller shaft, when a torquegreater than a predetermined torque is applied to the pressure rolleralong a circumferential direction thereof, while interlocking thepressure roller with the pressure roller shaft, when the torque appliedto the pressure roller along the circumferential direction thereof isless than the predetermined torque, wherein the predetermined torque isset less than a frictional torque directly generated between the feedroller friction part and the pressure roller friction part at the nippart, while being set greater than both the frictional torque generatedbetween the pressure roller friction part and the paper-sheet at the nippart and the frictional torque generated between a pair of paper-sheetsat the nip part.

According to this paper-sheet feeding device, the pressure roller isrotated together with the feed roller, when no paper-sheet is fed to thenip part between the feed roller and the pressure roller. Meanwhile,when one paper-sheet is fed to the nip part, the pressure roller will beinterlocked with the pressure roller shaft, while not being rotated inthe feed-out direction. In this case, since the coefficient of frictionbetween the feed roller friction part and the paper-sheet is greaterthan the coefficient of friction between the pressure roller frictionpart and the paper-sheet, the one paper-sheet will be fed out from thenip part, while being moved together with the rotation of the feedroller. Again, the pressure roller will be interlocked with the pressureroller shaft, while not being rotated in the feed-out direction, whentwo or more paper-sheets are accidentally fed to the nip part, whilebeing overlapped with one another. In this case, one paper-sheet,positioned nearest to the feed roller, among such a plurality ofoverlapped paper-sheets, will be fed out from the nip part, while beingmoved together with the rotation of the feed roller. However, at thistime, the other paper-sheets are not fed out from the nip part.

In this manner, according to the paper-sheet feeding device of thisinvention, there is no need for providing any drive transmissionmechanism for driving the pressure roller to be rotated. Therefore, theconstruction of such a paper-sheet feeding device can be significantlysimplified, leading to substantial cost reduction. Additionally, only ina period of time during which no paper-sheet is fed between the feedroller and the pressure roller, slipping against the torque exerted fromthe torque limiter occurs between the pressure roller and the pressureroller shaft. Therefore, even such a torque limiter as one havingrelatively low durability can be applied to this paper-sheet feedingdevice, thus significantly reducing the cost required for the torquelimiter. Furthermore, as compared with the case in which the rotationaldirection of the pressure roller is switched from the feed-out directionof the paper-sheet to the reverse direction thereof, relative to thepressure roller shaft, during the feed-out operation, the operationalmode of the pressure roller in the paper-sheet feeding device of thisinvention should only be changed from a mode of rotation in the feed-outdirection of the paper-sheet into a stopped condition, relative to thepressure roller shaft. Therefore, the time required for switching theoperational mode can be reduced. Accordingly, the speed for feeding thepaper-sheets can be increased, as compared with the conventional device.

In the paper-sheet feeding device of this invention, it is preferredthat a one-way clutch is provided to the pressure roller shaft, whereinthe one-way clutch is configured to allow the pressure roller shaft tobe rotated only in the direction reverse to the feed-out direction ofthe paper-sheet. With such a one-way clutch, the pressure roller can berotated together with the feed roller, also in the case in which thefeed roller is rotated in the feed-in direction of the paper-sheet, thusenabling this paper-sheet feeding device to perform a desired feed-inoperation for the paper-sheets.

In the paper-sheet feeding device of this invention, it is preferredthat the pressing force for pressing the pressure roller against thefeed roller is set within a range of 3.92N to 7.84N (0.8813 lbf to1.7625 lbf), wherein the predetermined torque applied from the torquelimiter is set within a range of 0.0686 N·m to 0.1078N·m (0.0506 lb·ftto 0.0795 lb·ft). If the predetermined torque is unduly large, thepressure roller may be interlocked with the pressure roller shaft, evenwhen no paper-sheet is fed to the nip part and thus the feed rollerfriction part of the feed roller is directly contacted with the pressureroller friction part of the pressure roller. In such a case, thepressure roller would remain in a stationary condition, even though thefeed roller is rotated in the feed-out direction of the paper-sheet.Thus, some friction would be always generated between the feed rollerfriction part of the feed roller and the pressure roller friction partof the pressure roller, leading to considerable wear of the feed rollerfriction part and/or pressure roller friction part in a shorter time. Incontrast, if the predetermined torque T is unduly small, the pressureroller may be rotated in the feed-out direction of the paper-sheet,relative to the paper-sheet roller shaft, even in a period of timeduring which one paper-sheet is fed through the nip part. Namely, insuch a case, slipping against the toque exerted from the torque limiterwould occur between the pressure roller and the pressure roller shaft,even in the period of time during which the one paper-sheet is fedthrough the nip part. Therefore, the life span of the torque limiter maybe considerably shortened. It is noted that the paper-sheet feedingdevice of this invention can be applied to various paper-sheets,specifically Japanese and/or US banknotes as well as banknotes of theother countries in the world or paper-sheets other than the banknotes,such as checks or the like, each having different thickness and/orquality of the material, by changing the pressing force of the pressureroller against the feed roller and/or altering the predetermined torqueapplied from the torque limiter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view showing construction of a paper-sheet storing andfeeding device related to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing construction of a feed roller and apressure roller in the paper-sheet storing and feeding device shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for schematically illustrating a state when thepaper-sheet is fed out from the paper-sheet feeding and storing deviceshown in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 3( a) is a schematic view showing a statein which no paper-sheet is fed to a nip part between the feed roller andthe pressure roller, FIG. 3( b) is a schematic view showing anotherstate when one paper-sheet is fed to the nip part between the feedroller and the pressure roller, and FIG. 3( c) is a schematic viewillustrating still another state when two paper-sheets are fed to thenip part between the feed roller and the pressure roller, while beingoverlapped with each other.

FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing construction of aconventional paper-sheet feeding device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for schematically illustrating a state when thepaper-sheet is fed out from the paper-sheet feeding device shown in FIG.4, wherein FIG. 5( a) is a schematic view showing a state before thepaper-sheet is fed to the nip part, FIG. 5( b) is a schematic viewshowing another state when one paper-sheet is fed to the nip partbetween the feed roller and the pressure roller, and FIG. 5( c) is aschematic view illustrating still another state when two paper-sheetsare fed to the nip part between the feed roller and the pressure roller,while being overlapped with each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 3 are diagrams, respectivelyshowing the embodiment, in which the paper-sheet feeding deviceaccording to the present invention is applied to a paper-sheet storingand feeding device.

General construction of the paper-sheet storing and feeding device ofthis embodiment, specific construction of each component thereof,operations and effects thereof, and variations and modifications thereofwill be described below, successively.

First, the general construction of the paper-sheet storing and feedingdevice of this embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the paper-sheet storing and feeding device comprisesa table 42 configured for placing thereon a plurality of paper-sheets P(e.g., banknotes or the like) in a standing position, and a kickerroller 30 configured to be in contact with a surface of the forefrontpaper-sheet P among the plurality of paper-sheets P placed in a stackedcondition on the table 42 then kick out the forefront paper-sheet P.Below the kicker roller 30, a pair of left and right feed rollers 10,each adapted for feeding out each paper-sheet P kicked out by the kickerroller 30, and a pressure roller 20 configured to be in contact with andpressed against each feed roller 10 and form a nip part N, together withthe feed rollers 10, are provided, respectively. Above the table 42, aholding member 40 is provided backwardly (or left in FIG. 1) away fromthe kicker roller 30. The holding member 40 is configured to hold theplurality of paper-sheets P between this member 40 and the kicker roller30 in order to keep these paper-sheets P in the standing and stackedcondition.

Below the feed roller 10, a guide member 45 configured for guiding eachpaper sheet P fed out from the nip part N is provided. Additionally, apair of left and right first grip rollers 46 and a pair of left andright second grip rollers 47 are contacted with the feed rollers 10,respectively. The first grip rollers 46, the second grip rollers 47 andthe feed rollers 10 are respectively configured for further carryingeach paper-sheet P fed out from the nip part N. In the vicinity of thefeed rollers 10, a pair of left and right third grip rollers 48 and apair of left and right carrier rollers 49 respectively contacted withthe third grip rollers 48, are provided, respectively. The third griprollers 48 and carrier rollers 49 are respectively configured forcarrying out each paper-sheet P fed out from another nip part formedbetween the feed rollers 10 and the second grip rollers 47.

Hereinafter, each component of the paper-sheet storing and feedingdevice will be described in more detail.

The kicker roller 30, as shown in FIG. 1, is configured to be in contactwith the forefront paper-sheet P among the plurality of paper-sheets Pin the stacked condition, and continuously rotated in a directiondesignated by an arrow as depicted in FIG. 1, upon feeding out eachpaper-sheet P. The kicker roller 30 includes a base part 32 having asubstantially disk-like shape and formed from, for example, a plastic ormetal, and a rubber 33 provided to a part of an outer circumference ofthe base part 32 and configured to kick out the forefront paper-sheet P.Along an axis of the kicker roller 30, a kicker roller shaft 31 forpivoting the kicker roller 30 is provided to extend in a verticaldirection relative to the sheet of FIG. 1. The rubber 33 is provided tocover, for example, ¼ of an outer circumferential surface of the basepart 32. The kicker roller 30 has a diameter of, for example,approximately 40 mm, and a width of, for example, approximately 12 mm.

Each feed roller 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is configured to becontinuously rotated in a direction designated by another arrow asdepicted in FIG. 1, upon feeding out each paper-sheet P. This feedroller 10 includes a base part 12 having a substantially disk-like shapeand formed from, for example, a plastic or metal, and a rubber (i.e., afeed roller friction part) 13 provided around the whole outercircumference of the base part 12. Along the axis of the feed roller 10,a feed roller shaft 11 for pivoting the feed roller 10 is provided toextend in the vertical direction relative to the sheet of FIG. 1 (i.e.,in left and right directions in FIG. 2). In this case, the rubber 13 isconfigured to be in contact with the surface of each paper-sheet Pkicked out by the kicker roller 30 and then feed out the paper-sheet P.The feed roller 10 has a diameter of, for example, 30 mm, and a widthof, for example, approximately 8 mm.

The pressure roller 20, as shown in FIG. 1, is provided to be in contactwith and pressed against each feed roller 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,the pressure roller 20 includes a base part 22 having a substantiallydisk-like shape and formed from, for example, a plastic or metal, andrubbers (i.e., pressure roller friction parts) 23 respectively providedaround the whole outer circumference of the base part 22. Along the axisof the pressure roller 20, a pressure roller shaft 21 for pivoting thepressure roller 20 is provided to extend in the vertical directionrelative to the sheet of FIG. 1 (i.e., in the left and right directionsin FIG. 2). In this case, the pressure roller 20 has a diameter of, forexample, 26 mm, and a width of, for example, approximately 6 mm.

Each rubber 23 of the pressure roller 20 forms the nip part N, togetherwith the rubber 13 of each feed roller 10. The width of each rubber 23of the pressure roller 20 is set to be slightly smaller than the widthof the rubber 13 of each feed roller 10. The coefficient of friction μ1of each rubber 23 of the pressure roller 20 against each paper-sheet Pis less than the coefficient of friction μ2 of the rubber 13 of eachfeed roller 10 against the paper-sheet P.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pressure roller shaft 21 is supported by a pairof pressure roller support members 26 (only one of the members 26 isshown in FIG. 1) respectively provided to both ends of the shaft 21.Each pressure roller support member 26 includes a head having asubstantially disk-like shape and configured for supporting the pressureroller shaft 21, and a proximal end connected with the head. To theproximal end of each pressure roller support member 26, a single fixedshaft 27 is provided to extend in the vertical direction relative to thesheet of FIG. 1. Thus, each pressure roller support member 26 can beoptionally rotated about the fixed shaft 27. Holding springs 28 arefurther provided between each pressure roller support member 26 and thefixed shaft 27. Each holding spring 28 biases the pressure rollersupport member 26 to be rotated, in a clockwise direction in FIG. 1(i.e., in a direction designated by another arrow as depicted in FIG.1), about the fixed shaft 27. With such a pressing force applied fromthe holding springs 28, the pressure roller 20 supported by the pressureroller support members 26 can be pressed against each feed roller 10. Inthis way, the nip part N is formed between each rubber 23 of thepressure roller 20 and the rubber 13 of each feed roller 10. In thiscase, the pressing force P1 applied from the holding springs 28, forpressing the pressure roller 20 against the feed rollers 10, is setwithin a range of 3.92 N to 7.84 N (0.8813 lbf to 1.7625 lbf).

Between the base part 22 of the pressure roller 20 and the pressureroller shaft 21, a torque limiter 24 is provided. The torque limiter 24is configured to allow the pressure roller 20 to be rotated, in afeed-out direction of the paper-sheet P, relative to the pressure rollershaft 21, when a torque greater than a predetermined torque T is appliedto the pressure roller 20 along the circumferential direction thereof.On the contrary, this torque limiter 24 is configured to interlock thepressure roller 20 with the pressure roller shaft 21, when the torqueless than the predetermined torque T is applied to the pressure roller20 along the circumferential direction thereof. In this case, thepredetermined torque T set in the torque limiter 24 is set less thanfrictional torque N3 directly generated between the rubbers 13 of thefeed rollers 10 and the rubbers 23 of the pressure roller 20 at the nippart N, while being set greater than the frictional torque N1 generatedbetween the rubbers 23 of the pressure roller 20 and each paper-sheet Pat the nip part N and the frictional torque N4 generated between the twooverlapped paper-sheets at the nip part N.

Now, assuming that the coefficient of friction between the rubber 13 ofeach feed roller 10 and each rubber 23 of the pressure roller 20 isdesignated by μ3, the aforementioned frictional torque N3 can beexpressed by the following equation.N3=μ3×P1  (1)

As described above, P1 designates the pressing force of the pressureroller 20 against the feed rollers 10.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned frictional torque N1 can be expressed asfollows.N1=μ1×P1  (2)

Additionally, assuming that the coefficient of friction between the twooverlapped paper-sheets P is designated by μ4, the aforementionedfrictional torque N4 can be expressed by the following equation.N4=μ4×P1  (3)

Generally, the coefficient of friction μ1 of each rubber 23 of thepressure roller 20 against the paper-sheet P is much greater than thecoefficient of friction μ4 between the two overlapped paper-sheets P.Therefore, the predetermined torque T is set at a value satisfying thefollowing formula.μ1×P1<T÷R<μ3×P1  (4)

In this formula (4), R denotes a radius (e.g., 13 mm) of the pressureroller 20.

In addition, one-way clutches 25 (see FIG. 2) are provided between thepressure roller shaft 21 and each pressure roller support member 26.Each one-way clutch 25 is configured to allow the pressure roller shaft21 to be rotated, only in a direction reverse to the feed-out directionof the paper-sheet P. With such provision of the one-way clutches 25,the pressure roller 20 can be freely rotated in one direction (i.e., ina feed-in direction of the paper-sheet P), together with the pressureroller shaft 21, without suffering any influence from the torque limiter24, when each paper-sheet P is fed in from the outside. Meanwhile, dueto such one-way clutches 25, the pressure roller shaft 21 will not berotated in the feed-out direction, when each paper-sheet P is fed out tothe outside.

The holding member 40 is configured to be optionally advanced andretracted, relative to the kicker roller 30, on the table 42 (i.e., theholding member 40 can be moved in the left and right directions in FIG.1). When the holding member 40 is advanced toward the kicker roller 30(or moved in the right direction in FIG. 1), the plurality ofpaper-sheets P placed between the holding member 40 and the kickerroller 30 will be kept in the standing position.

A rubber 41 is attached to a surface, on the side of the kicker roller30, of the holding member 40, such that the rubber 41 can be in contactwith the surface of the rearmost paper-sheet P among the plurality ofpaper-sheets P placed in the stacked condition on the table 42. Thus,when the holding member 40 is advanced, the rubber 41 will push theplurality of paper-sheets P forward (in the right direction in FIG. 1)and bring them into the standing condition.

It is noted that such a member as one attached to the surface, on theside of the kicker roller 30, of the holding member 40 is not limited tothe rubber 41 as described above. For instance, any suitable member,having frictional torque, against the paper-sheet P, greater than theaforementioned frictional torque N4 generated between the two overlappedpaper-sheets P, may be used.

Next, an operation of this embodiment constructed as described abovewill be discussed, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

First, the operation for feeding the plurality of paper-sheets P in thestacked condition, to the outside, successively, one by one, will bedescribed.

First of all, the plurality of paper-sheets P are placed between theholding member 40 and the kicker roller 30 on the table 42. Then, theholding member 40 is advanced toward the kicker roller 30 (or moved inthe right direction in FIG. 1). Consequently, the paper-sheets P areheld between the holding member 40 and the kicker roller 30, so as totake the standing position.

In this case, the holding member 40 is pressed from the back on thetable 42, such that it can be always advanced toward the kicker roller30. Accordingly, even after a part of the paper-sheets P, among thepaper-sheets P in the stacked condition, are kicked out by the kickerroller 30, the remaining paper-sheets P can be always kept in thestanding position.

In this way, once the paper-sheets P are stacked in the standingposition by the holding member 40, the kicker roller 30 and feed rollers10 are rotated, in the directions designated by the arrows depicted inFIG. 1, respectively. Due to the continuous rotation of the kickerroller 30, the rubber 33 is in contact with the forefront paper-sheet P,among the paper-sheets P in the stacked condition. As a result, thisforefront paper-sheet P is kicked out downward.

The paper-sheet P kicked out downward by the kicker roller 30 is thenfed to the nip part N formed between the rubber 13 of each feed roller10 and each rubber 23 of the pressure roller 20. Now, referring to FIG.3, a feed-out operation for the paper-sheet P at the nip part N will bedetailed. In FIG. 3, the feed-out direction of the paper-sheet P is theright direction.

FIG. 3( a) is a schematic view showing a state in which no paper-sheet Pis fed to the nip part N between the feed rollers 10 and the pressureroller 20. In this case, as described above, each feed roller 10 iscontinuously rotated in the feed-out direction of the paper sheet P,while being pressed against the pressure roller 20. Thus, the pressureroller 20 is rotated together with the feed rollers 10, while receivingthe pressing torque from the rotating feed rollers 10. This torqueexerted on the pressure roller 20, for rotating it together with thefeed rollers 10 (i.e., the torque applied to the pressure roller 20along the circumferential direction thereof) corresponds to thefrictional torque N3 directly generated between the rubbers 13 of thefeed rollers 10 and the rubbers 23 of the pressure roller 20 at the nippart N. Since such torque applied to the pressure roller 20, forrotating it together with the feed rollers 10, is greater than thepredetermined torque T set in the torque limiter 24, the rotation of thepressure roller 20 in the feed-out direction of the paper-sheet P,relative to the pressure roller shaft 21, is allowed. Thus, the pressureroller 20 will be rotated together with the feed rollers 10 in thedirection designated by an arrow as depicted in FIG. 3( a).

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3( b), when one paper-sheet P is fed to thenip part N between the feed rollers 10 and the pressure roller 20, africtional torque N2 exerted between the rubbers 13 of the feed rollers10 and the paper-sheet P, while a frictional torque N1 is exertedbetween the rubbers 23 of the pressure roller 20 and the paper-sheet P.At this time, as described above, the predetermined torque T set in thetorque limiter 24 is set at a value greater than the frictional torqueN1 generated between the rubbers 23 of the pressure roller 20 and thepaper-sheet P at the nip part N. Thus, the rotation of the pressureroller 20 in the feed-out direction of the paper-sheet P, relative tothe pressure roller shaft 21, will not be allowed and the pressureroller 20 will be interlocked with the pressure roller shaft 21.Additionally, the rotation of the pressure roller shaft 21 in thefeed-out direction of the paper-sheet P is prevented by the one-wayclutches 25. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3( b), both of the pressureroller shaft 21 and pressure roller 20 will be no longer rotated, whilebeing brought into a stationary state. Furthermore, as described above,since the coefficient of friction μ2 of the rubber 13 of each feedroller 10 relative to the paper-sheet P is greater than the coefficientof friction μ1 of each rubber 23 of the pressure roller 20 relative tothe paper-sheet P, the frictional torque N2 between the rubbers 13 ofthe feed rollers 10 and the paper-sheet P at the nip part N is greaterthan the frictional torque N1 between the rubbers 23 of the pressureroller 20 and the paper-sheet P. Thus, the paper-sheet P will be fed outin the right direction in FIG. 3 from the nip part N, while being movedtogether with the rotation of the feed rollers 10.

However, when two paper-sheets P are kicked out, accidentally, whilebeing overlapped with each other, by the kicker roller 30, as shown inFIG. 3( c), such two overlapped paper-sheets P will be fed to the nippart N between the feed rollers 10 and the pressure roller 20. In thiscase, the frictional torque N2 is exerted between the rubbers 13 of thefeed rollers 10 and one of the two paper-sheets P, while the frictionaltorque N1 is exerted between the rubbers 23 of the pressure roller 20and the other of the paper-sheets P. In addition, the frictional torqueN4 is generated between the two overlapped paper-sheets P. As describedabove, since the coefficient of friction μ4 between the two overlappedpaper-sheets P is significantly less than the coefficient of friction μ1between each rubber 23 of the pressure roller 20 and the paper-sheet P,the frictional torque N4 exerted between the two overlapped paper-sheetsP will also be significantly less than the frictional torque N1generated between the rubbers 23 of the pressure roller 20 and thepaper-sheet P.

Accordingly, in the case in which such two overlapped paper-sheets P arefed together to the nip part N between the feed rollers 10 and thepressure roller 20, the torque applied to the pressure roller 20 alongits circumferential direction will be the frictional torque N4 exertedbetween the two overlapped paper-sheets P. However, as described above,since this frictional torque N4 is less than the predetermined torque Texerted from the torque limiter 24, the rotation of the pressure roller20 in the feed-out direction of the paper-sheet P, relative to thepressure roller shaft 21, will not be allowed and the pressure roller 20will be interlocked with the pressure roller shaft 21. Accordingly, alsoin this case, as shown in FIG. 3( c), both of the pressure roller shaft21 and pressure roller 20 will be no longer rotated, while being broughtinto the stationary state. In addition, since the frictional torque N2between the rubbers 13 of the feed rollers 10 and the paper-sheet P atthe nip part N is greater than the frictional torque N4 exerted betweenthe two overlapped paper-sheets P, the one paper-sheet P, on the side ofthe feed rollers 10, of the two overlapped paper-sheets P, will be fedout in the right direction in FIG. 3, while being moved together withthe rotation of the feed rollers 10. Meanwhile, the other paper-sheet P,on the side of the pressure roller 20, of the two overlappedpaper-sheets P, will not be fed out from the nip part N, because thepressure roller 20 is brought into the stationary state.

Thereafter, the paper-sheet P fed out from the nip part N between thefeed rollers 10 and the pressure roller 20 will be carried by the firstgrip rollers 46 and second grip rollers 47 along the guide member 45,and finally carried out from another nip part between the third griprollers 48 and carrier rollers 49.

Next, an operation, for storing the plurality of paper-sheets Psuccessively fed in from the outside as well as for bringing them intothe stacked condition, will be discussed, with respect to thepaper-sheet storing and feeding device of this embodiment.

First, the paper-sheets P are inserted, one by one, between the thirdgrip rollers 48 and carrier rollers 49. Each of the insertedpaper-sheets P is then fed, along the guide member 45, to the nip part Nbetween the feed rollers 10 and the pressure roller 20. In this case,each feed roller 10 is continuously rotated in the direction reverse tothe direction designated by the arrow depicted in FIG. 1.

Thereafter, a feed-in operation for the paper-sheets P successively fedto the nip part N is performed, one by one, by the feed rollers 10. Asdescribed above, the one-way clutches 25, which are provided to thepressure roller shaft 21 for pivoting the pressure roller 20, isconfigured to allow the pressure roller shaft 21 to be rotated in thedirection reverse to the feed-out direction of the paper-sheet P, i.e.,in the feed-in direction of the paper-sheet P. Again, since each feedroller 10 is pressed against the pressure roller 20, the pressure roller20 will be rotated together with the feed rollers 10. As a result, thepressure roller 20 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction inFIG. 1. In this way, the paper-sheet P fed to the nip part N between thefeed rollers 10 and the pressure roller 20 will be further fed onto thetable 42, smoothly and successively.

Thereafter, the plurality of paper-sheets P successively fed and stackedonto the table 42 will be held in the standing position between theholding member 40 and the kicker roller 30.

As discussed above, according to the paper-sheet storing and feedingdevice of this embodiment, the torque limiter 24 is provided between thepressure roller 20 and the pressure roller shaft 21. In this case, thetorque limiter 24 is configured to allow the pressure roller 20 to berotated, in the feed-out direction of the paper-sheet P, relative to thepressure roller shaft 21, when the torque greater than the predeterminedtorque T is applied to the pressure roller 20 along the circumferentialdirection thereof. In addition, this torque limiter 24 is configured tointerlock the pressure roller 20 with the pressure roller shaft 21, whenthe torque less than the predetermined torque T is applied to thepressure roller 20 along the circumferential direction thereof. Thepredetermined torque T is set at a value less than the frictional torqueN3 directly generated between the rubbers 13 of the feed rollers 10 andthe rubbers 23 of the pressure roller 20 at the nip part N, while beingset greater than both of the frictional torque N1 generated between therubbers 23 of the pressure roller 20 and the paper-sheet P at the nippart N and the frictional torque N4 generated between the two overlappedpaper-sheets P at the nip part N. Furthermore, the pressure roller shaft21 is configured not to be rotated in the feed-out direction of thepaper-sheet P. Therefore, as described above, when no paper-sheet P isfed to the nip part N between the feed rollers 10 and the pressureroller 20, the pressure roller 20 is rotated together with the feedrollers 10. Meanwhile, when one paper-sheet P is fed to the nip part N,the pressure roller 20 will be interlocked with the pressure rollershaft 21. Thus, the pressure roller 20 will be no longer rotated in thefeed-out direction of the paper-sheet P. In this case, since thecoefficient of friction μ1 between the rubber 13 of each feed roller 10and the paper-sheet P is greater than the coefficient of friction μ2between each rubber 23 of the pressure roller 20 and the paper-sheet P,the paper-sheet P will be fed out from the nip part N together with therotation of the feed roller 10. Similarly, when the two or morepaper-sheets P are fed to the nip part N, while being overlapped withone another, the pressure roller 20 will be interlocked with thepressure roller shaft 21 and thus will no longer be rotated in thefeed-out direction of the paper-sheet P. In this case, the onepaper-sheet P nearest to the feed rollers 10, among such two or moreoverlapped paper-sheets P, will be fed out from the nip part N, whilebeing moved together with the rotation of the feed rollers 10. However,at this time, the other paper-sheets P are not fed out from the nip partN.

In this manner, according to the paper-sheet storing and feeding deviceof this embodiment, there is no need for providing any special drivetransmission mechanism for driving the pressure roller 20 to be rotated.This can significantly simplify the construction of the paper-sheetstoring and feeding device, leading to a cost reduction. In addition,only in the period of time during which no paper-sheet is fed betweenthe feed rollers 10 and the pressure roller 20, slipping against thetorque exerted from the torque limiter 24 occurs between the pressureroller 20 and the pressure roller shaft 21. Therefore, even such atorque limiter 24 as one having relatively low durability can be appliedto this paper-sheet storing and feeding device, thus significantlyreducing the cost required for the torque limiter 24. Furthermore, ascompared with the conventional device configured for switching therotational direction of the pressure roller, from the feed-out directionof the paper-sheet to the reverse direction thereof (i.e., the feed-indirection), relative to the pressure roller shaft, during the feed-outoperation, the operational mode of the pressure roller 20 of thepaper-sheet storing and feeding device of the above embodiment shouldonly be changed from a mode of rotation in the feed-out direction of thepaper-sheet P, relative to the pressure roller shaft 21, into thestationary or stopped state. Therefore, the time required for switchingthe operational mode can be reduced. Thus, the speed for feeding out thepaper-sheets P can be increased, as compared with the conventionaldevice.

Additionally, the one-way clutches 25 are provided to the pressureroller shaft 21, wherein the one-way clutches 25 are configured to allowthe pressure roller shaft 21 to be rotated only in the direction reverseto the feed-out direction of the paper sheet P. With such a provision ofthe one-way clutches 25, the pressure roller 20 can be rotated togetherwith the feed rollers 10, in the case in which the feed rollers 10 arerotated in the feed-in direction of the paper-sheet P. As such, adesired feed-in operation for the paper-sheet P can be performed by thispaper-sheet storing and feeding device.

Specifically, the predetermined torque T is set within a range of 0.0686N·m to 0.1078 N·m (0.0506 lb·ft to 0.0795 lb·ft). If the predeterminedtorque T is unduly large, as compared with the above range, the pressureroller 20 may be interlocked with the pressure roller shaft 21, evenwhen no paper-sheet P is fed to the nip part N and hence the rubber 13of each feed roller 10 is directly contacted with each rubber 23 of thepressure roller 20. Therefore, in such a case, the pressure roller 20would remain in the stationary state, at any time, even through the feedrollers 10 are rotated in the feed-out direction of the paper-sheet P.Accordingly, some friction would be always generated between the rubber13 of each feed roller 10 and each rubber 23 of the pressure roller 20,thus wearing out the rubber 13 and/or rubber 23 in a shorter time.Contrary, if the predetermined torque T is unduly small, the pressureroller 20 may be rotated in the feed-out direction of the paper-sheet P,relative to the pressure roller shaft 21, even in a period of timeduring which one paper-sheet P is fed through the nip part N. In such acase, abrasive slipping against the toque exerted from the torquelimiter 24 would occur between the pressure roller 20 and the pressureroller shaft 21, even in the period of time during which the onepaper-sheet P is fed through the nip part N. Therefore, the life span ofthe torque limiter 24 should be considerably shortened.

It should be appreciated that the paper-sheet storing and feeding devicedescribed above can be applied to various paper-sheets P, specificallyJapanese and/or US banknotes as well as banknotes of the other countriesin the world or paper-sheets P other than the banknotes, such as checksor the like, each having different thickness and/or quality of thematerial, by changing the pressing force P1 of the pressure roller 20against the feed rollers 10 and/or adequately adjusting thepredetermined torque T set in the torque limiter 24.

In addition, according to the paper-sheet storing and feeding device asdescribed above, both of the feed-out operation and feed-in operationfor the paper-sheets P can be performed with the same transport path,thereby substantially downsizing the paper-sheet storing and feedingdevice.

While the paper-sheet storing and feeding device capable of performingboth of the feed-out operation and feed-in operation for thepaper-sheets has been discussed with respect to the above embodiment,the present invention is not limited to such an aspect. For instance,this invention is also applicable to the paper-sheet feeding deviceadapted for feeding out the paper-sheets, successively, one by one,while having no function for feeding in and storing the paper-sheetstherein.

While the paper-sheet storing and feeding device related to the aboveembodiment has been described as one configured to place the pluralityof paper-sheets on the table in the vertically standing position, thepresent invention is not limited to such a type. For instance, thisinvention can also be applied to the paper-sheet storing and feedingdevice or paper-sheet feeding device, which is configured to place theplurality of paper-sheets on the table in a horizontally stackedcondition.

1. A paper-sheet feeding device, comprising: a feed roller configured tobe continuously rotated, upon feeding a paper-sheet, wherein the feedroller has a feed roller friction part provided around an outercircumferential surface thereof and configured to be in contact with asurface of the paper-sheet, thereby feeding the paper-sheet; a pressureroller configured to be pressed against the feed roller and form a nippart, together with the feed roller, wherein the pressure roller has apressure roller friction part provided around an outer circumferentialsurface thereof and having a smaller coefficient of friction against thepaper-sheet, as compared with a coefficient of friction between the feedroller friction part and the paper-sheet; a pressure roller shaftprovided to extend along an axis of the pressure roller and configurednot to be rotated in a feed-out direction of the paper-sheet; a one-wayclutch mounted on the pressure roller shaft, wherein the one-way clutchis configured to allow the pressure roller shaft to be rotated only in adirection that is reverse to the feed-out direction of the paper-sheet;and a torque limiter provided between the pressure roller and thepressure roller shaft and configured to allow the pressure roller to berotated in the feed-out direction of the paper-sheet, relative to thepressure roller shaft, when a torque greater than a predetermined torqueis applied to the pressure roller along a circumferential directionthereof, while interlocking the pressure roller with the pressure rollershaft, when the torque applied to the pressure roller along thecircumferential direction thereof is less than the predetermined torque,wherein the predetermined torque is set less than frictional torquedirectly generated between the feed roller friction part and thepressure roller friction part at the nip part, while being set greaterthan both the frictional torque generated between the pressure rollerfriction part and the paper-sheet at the nip part, and the frictionaltorque generated between a pair of paper-sheets at the nip part.
 2. Thepaper-sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein pressing forcefor pressing the pressure roller against the feed roller is set within arange of 3.92 N to 7.84 N (0.8813 lbf to 1.7625 lbf), and wherein thepredetermined torque applied from the torque limiter is set within arange of 0.0686 N·m to 0.1078 N·m (0.0506 lb·ft to 0.0795 lb·ft).
 3. Thepaper-sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the one-wayclutch is mounted on the pressure roller shaft at a position between thepressure roller and a pressure roller support member.